Eyeleting-machine.



A. B. WALES.

EYELETING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. 1912.

Patented June 22, 1915.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALI-BED B. WALES, OF WHITMAN. MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MEETS; T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATEBSON, NEW JERSEY, A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented June 22, 1915.

Application filed May 4, 1912. Serial No. 695,064.

T 0 al trim/n it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED B. \VALES, a citizen of the United States, residing at \l'hitinan. (oimty of Plymouth, State of Massichusetrs, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Eyeletiug-Machines. of which the following; is a specification, reference being bad t erein to the accompanying drawings.

, My invention has for its object a machine for setting what are termed blind eyelets.

The invention is fully set forth in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the novel features are pointed out. in the claims at the close of the specification.

What is termed a blind eyelet is an eyelet which is set in the under one of two pieces of sheetmaterial, the upper piece of material serving to cover and conceal the eyelet, and there being in the upper piece a hole which registers with the hole through the eyelet and thus permits the passage of a shoe lace or the like. Such blind eyelets are used to a considerable extent in the uppers of boots and shoes, being set in the lining or facing stay beneath the leather or outer portion of the quarter.

. Hitherto so far as known to me in the setting of blind eyelets both the pieces of leather are first punched. After the punching operation is completed the upper or covermg piece of leather is turned back, and the eyelets are then set in the lining or stay. This entails a second handling of the stock and is a relatively slow operation. With a view to obviating this second handling of the work and improving both the rapidity and economy of the blind eyeleting operation, an object of the present invention is to provide means for alternately performing the step of punching both parts of an uppeer and the step of setting an eyelet inone part of the upper in the hole thus formed in that part, while the two parts are mainmined in the normal relation which is to be preserved in the finished shoe.

To this end. an important feature of the invention is the combination of a feeding member arranged to carry a punched upper into line with an eyelet carrying set, with means acting before the feeding member is withdrawn fromthe upper and upon the barrel of an eyelet inserted by the set through one portion of the upper for clenching the end of the barrel upon the concealed surface of said portion.

By the employment of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention the two pieces of leather are punched and the eyelets are set in the under piece as rapidly and continuously as heretofore a single strip of leather has been punched and eyelets set therein.

One important feature of the invention consists in the provision of a thin work separatin member atlapated to be inserted between te partially attached parts of a shoe upper and serving to separate that part which is to be punched only from that part which is to be punched and eyeleted. An important advantage of such a separating member is that the two parts of the upper may be fed across its opposite faces and any desired or difi'erent operations may be performed independently without difliculty upon the parts of the work so separated.

In the machine herein shown an upsetting die is mounted upon one side of the work separating member and asetting die is arranged to coiiperabe therewith for inserting and clenching successive eyelets in the part of the upper which is fed across the upset ting die. The work separating member upon its other side is made smooth so thatthe other side of the upper, which is to be punched only. can be fed across it without obstruction.

Another important feature ot'- the invention consists in the provision of means for supporting the thin work separating member against the pressure of the setting'aie during the setting operation while at the some time leaving an unobstructed space for the passage of the work on both sides of the separating member between the setting operations. As herein shown this is efiected by arranging the punch to be moved oppositely to the setting die and to engage the smooth side of the work engaging member when the setting die is moved toward the upsetting die.

Still another feature of the invention con sists in so shaping the separating member that it need be inserted only :1 short distance within the edge of the upper. Under such circumstances the se crating member will not interfere with t e inner line of top stitching found in shoes of many styles, .whereas otherwise, it would he neceary to set the blind eyelets before the quarter had been stitched. This would render likely inaccuracies in alinement between the holes and the eyelets when the upper and lining were finally stitched together. One form of separatingmmember which posse$es the ad vantage :1 ve disclosed isjierein shown end comprises a. plate ha'ving a shank portion disposed transversely to the edge of the work and a body portion extending substantially arallel thereto.

As erein shown the work separating member is utilized to strip one piece of ma terial from the feeding member as the work is fed between the punching and setting operations. This constitutes still another feature of the invention and renders it possible to utilize the punch for feeding the work.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a. plan view of the attachment embodying my invention shown secured to the table of an eyeleting machine, Fig. 2 is a front View of a portion of an eyeleting machine showing my attaclnnent applied to the table thereof, and also showing the lower set and the punch, the latter being in its highest tposition. 3 isasimilarview show ing e it has cut a hole in the two strips of leather. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts in the- 'tion which thefy occupiv completion of the setting 0 the ye at. Fig. 5 is a perspective of a piece of work showing the upper and under stri which nre used in blind eyeletin the un er strip having eyelets therein, an the upper strip holes which register with the barrels of the eye lets.

not limited in its application to this or any particular type of eyeleting machine.

Referring to the drawings, 2 is a part or plate formed preferably from 9. relatively thin flexible sheet of metal. This plate is shaped adapted to be secured by means of screws 3 or equivalent securing devices to the top of the work plate 4 of an eyeleting machine. The plate 2 compriss a body portion, and a shank portion slotted for purposes of adjustment and maintained in place by the screws 3. This shank ortion is mounted upon a small plate or b ock 5 which serves to hold the part '2 above the table 4 so that the lining 6 in-which the eyelets are to be set, may pox under the part '2 while the outer part of the quarter 7 may pass over the said pzirt '2. Running from front to Fig. punch after I at they as shown in plan in Fig. 1, and is -f movement of the punch, and extends in the direction of the feed to and through the neck portion 10 of the part As will be clear to those skilled in the art the stock is fed forward by the punch, after each cutting movement of the latter, a. distance equal to ,the distance between the eyelets.

The part 2 is provided with a projectiug portion 9, the neck 10 of said portion 9 being bent downwardly as shown in Fig. 2 so that the punch 11 when moving forward to feed the stock will pass out of the open ingSand over the forward projection 9. (ii the under side of the projection 9 is secur an upsetting die or upper set member 12 which coti tes with the set 13 of the machine, am when the punch has completed its forward feed movement it is directly over the upper set 1:2 as shown in Fig. 4. The forward feed movement of the punch causes the neck portion of the part 2 to disengage the under portion 6 of the upper from the point of the punch, and the engagement of the punch with the superposed portion '5 of the upper carries the leather forward until the upper setting die is located in the hole just formed by the punch in the lining. hen the punch is in this position the under set 11; with the eyelet 14 in position as shown Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is moved upwardly and the eyelet is inmrted and setin the lower portion 6 as shown Fig. 4, the end of the eyelet bar el being clenched upon the inner or concealed surface of the lower portion. The part together with its projecting end J may he made of comparatiaolv thin sheet material, because at the time the eyelet is set it is backed up by the punch and is therefore held rigidlyzmd prevented from yielding.

After the eyelet is set the punch mow-s upwardly and tounrd the right as seen in the figures and again descends through the slot 8 cutting holes in both the upper anti lower pieces 7311:! tand again feeds the stock forward topping dhectly over the upsetting die 1:? on the proiection 9, and an other eyelet is then set in the lower portion of the upper and the operation repeated. The construction and operation of the punch. as also the lower set are well lumwu to those skilled in the art and do not require detailed description.

What I have termed the block 01' plate 5 is located on the side of the plate 2 which is toward the top of the sheet as so n Fig. l. the edge of said block 5 which is next the slot being indicated by dotted line 15, Fig. l and it will be clear that said block may be either integral with the part 2 or it may be formedon the work plate of the machine and be integral therewith, or it may as indicated in the drawings, be simply a separate strip or block of proper size having holes therein through which the securing screws 3 may pass. This block is not only thick enough to permit the lower portions of the work to pass under the plate, but also to hold the upper portion of the work high enough upto prevent it slipping 02! over the end of the punch before the feeding movement is completed, and. the plate adjacent the slot supports the upper;

portion of the work on both sides of the punch the feeding movement up to thefimewhen the punch passes out of the 2,3 and 4.- is sufiicient to tion to an eyeleting machine, and its use permits, for the first the entire blind 'eyeleting operation, is the punching ofitwo layers of the inserting of an eyelet in the layer, to be" carapplication No. d #922 5 1214, d s a novmoth o p ucmga'nnpper vmg blind eyelets set steps of that method my be carried out with good advantage by the machine herein dis What I claim i L In an eyel chine, the combination with the-plmch and set of an ifiterme' diate plate comprising a body portion, s pmjectingportion and a curved connecting nedr, and body portion being slotted tor permit the pasage of the punch and portion heing provided with a setting member to cofiperafe with the set of the 2. In an eyeleting machine, the combination with the punch and set of a plate located permanently between said punch nnds gqsa dplatehavingacoii thereonregisterlngwlththe In an eyeleting machine the combination with the punch and set of an intermediate plate on the work table of the machine, said plate comprising a body portion, a projecting portion and a connecting curved neck, said body portion and curved neck being slotted to permit the punching and feeding movements of the punch, said neck serving to remove the lower strip in which the eyelet is to be set from the punch.

4. In an eyelehing machine, the combination with a punch and set of an intermediate plate adapted to project between two strips of material both of which are to be ched and in one of which eyelets are to set, said plate having an opening therein to permit the passage of the punch in the punching operation and to permit the movement of the punch in the feeding operation and having a projection provided with a cooperating setti member, said projection being located be ow the cutting end of the punch when the latter is feeding the stock forward.

5. In an eyeleting machine, the combination with the punch and set of a plate adapted to project between two strips of leather through which the punch operates, said plate being slotted to permit the passage theretln'ough of the punch and being so shaped as to be above the cutting end of the punch where the punching operation is performed and below the cutting and of the punch where the setting operation is per formed.

6. In an eyeleting machine, the combingtion with a work table, a punch and a lower set,- of an epertured plate through which the punch passes in,perforating the work, said plate being raiw above the work table sufficiently to allow one portion of the work to pass under the plate and to hold the upper portion of the work up on the punch during the setting operation.

7. In an eyeleting machine, the combination with a punch for lmching two pieces of'lealzher, an into to plate having a set on one side which may be introduced between the two pieces, and a cooperating set for setting an eyelet in one piece the set on the intermediate plate w e the punch remains in the hole in the other piece 8. A machine for inserting blind eyelets in shoe having in combination, a punch mam ha a portion constructed and arranged to ordte both the leather and the lining parts of the upper, a recipe rocatory eyelet carrying set, and an upsetting die-for clenching the eyelet barrel on the lining while a "on of the punch member remains in mole in the leather part 9 ln m eyaheting machine, the combinefion with a thin set-carrying plate, means for punching and positively feeding two rial, together with a movable H means for adjustably maintainsaad plate with its set in line with the mo le die.

11. A m'ach'me for blindeyelets inshoe u rs having, in eombmalaon, a tool with ils end sha for punching, said tool being constru and to enter a-shoe upper from the outer sido'and to perfol-ate both the outer portion and the portion, an eyelet carryigg movable toward the inner or lining e of the punched upper to insert an eyelet in said limng 1'- tion, and means for clenching the barre of the eyelet upon the and the outer portion of the upper before the tool is withdmwn from the upper.

12. A machine for inserting blind eyelets in a shoe upper, having in combination, a work table, a cutting block, a punch member movable toward the cutting block to perforate both the leather and the lining parts of the upper, an upsetting die arranged to occupy a position between the leather and lining parts when a portion of the punch is in the' lother part, and a eoi' perating eyelet cnrrying set for inserting an eyelet'in the lining to be clenched by the upsetting die.

13. In 'an eyeleting machine, the combination with an upsetting die, a punch movable to perforate two pieces of wock at a point at one side of the upsetting die and then to feed the Work into alinement with the npsetting die, and a work separating melnherhaving an inclined portionlocated between the upsettingdie and the punching portion for stripping one piece of the work from the punch and maintaining the other piece on the punch during thefeeding operation.

14. In an eyeleting machine, the combination with an ups-cairn; die, a feeding member for advancing the work from punching position at one side of the upsetting die into alinement with slid die, and a work sepairating member shaped tosiz'ip one of two superposed pieces of sheet material from the feeding member dn ring the feeding operation.

15. A machine for inserting blind eyelets in shoe uppers having, in oombinatioma tool with its end shaped for punching, said tool being movable in the machine to enter a shoe upper from one side thereof and to perfo-' 1,14egr41 rate both the lining portion and the outer portion, on eyelet carrying set mowble to- Ward the opposite side of the upper while the'tool remains in the upper for inserting an eyelet in one portion, and means for clenching the barrel of the eyelet on said portion and beneath the other portion of the upper while the tool remains in the upper.

16. A machine for setting blind eyelets having, in combination, a thin projecting member having-an upsetting die on one side and a surface of the other side shaped to facilitate the unimpeded passage of the materiah said member projecting so that layers of sheetmaterial may be moved past both sides, means-coiipereting with the die to set an e clot in the layer on one side of the mere 1', and a separate punch for punching a. hole'through the other lnyerin alinement with the eyelet.

18. A machine for setting blind eyelets having, in combination, a work separating device havin" an upsetting die on one side and a smooth surface on the other, means for feeding partially attached layers of sheet material past said device in a. stepbystep manner, a set for setting an eyelet in one layerin coiiperation with the upsetting die, and a punch for operating on the layer winch engagm the smooth face of the separating device.

19. A machine for inserting blind eyelets in shoe u pers having, in combination, a tool with its end shaped for punching, said tool being movable downwardly to punch both the outer and the lining portions of a shoe nplper, an eyelet carrying set movable upward 3; toward the upper to insertan cyclct in the lowermost portion thereof, and means for clenching the barrel of the eyelet upon said portion and independently of the uppermost portion of the upper w hile the tool remains in vertical line with the set and in its lowermost position.

20. A machine for inserting blind tubular fasteners in shoe uppers. ha ing. in combination. a fastener carrying set. a punch movable Vertically for punching the upper and then horizontally for feeding lhl' punched upper from Zl munching posib n at one side 0f the Eflt in iH lllnl'l (H P! H1O sol. and means formm'ing the ol upwardly tr; insert a'fastcder in he lrnvcrnwl lm'vr 0.

the upper and clench 1ts barrel beneath the uppermost layer While the punch remains in position at the end of its feeding movement 21. A machine for inserting blind tubular fasteners in shoe uppers, having, in combination, a fastener carrying set, a punch constructed and arranged for punching both parts of an-upper and for feeding them into position above the set, upsetting means located in line with said punch and set and between the two parts of the upper when the upper has been'fed over the set, and means for operating the set, with the parts of the upper in this position, to set a fastener in the under part While the punch remains in its lowermost position.

22. In a machine for inserting blind eyelets in shoe uppers comprising an outer and a lining portion, the combination of a Work table; an eyelet carrying set movable in a vertical path adjacent to the table; a feeding member movable over the surface of the Work table to feed a punched upper, by engagement with a hole in the upper, into line with the eyelet carrying set; and means Which acts, before the feeding member is withdrawn from the hole in the upper, upon the barrel of an eyelet inserted by the set through one portion of the upper to clench 30 the end of the barrel upon the concealed surface of said portion.

23. In a machine for inserting blind eyelets in shoe uppers comprising outer and lining portions, the combination of a work 35 upper, into line with the eyelet inserting 4 set; and means which acts, While the feeding member still controls the position of the upper, upon the barrel of an eyelet inserted by the set through one portion of the upper to clench the end of the barrel upon 45 the inner surface of said portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED B. WALES. Witnesses:

ALICE H. MORRISON, GEORGE P. DIKE.

Corrections in It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 143,741, granted June 22,

1915, Upon the application of Alfred B. Wales, of Whitman, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Eyeleting-Maohines," errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 97, for the word leather read upper;

same page, line 98, for the words upper setting read upsetting; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of February, A. D., 1916.

[snu R. F. WHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. Cl. 21814. 

